Apple packing device



Jan. 21, 1936. c. L. TAYLOR APPLE PACKING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1955 the packed container.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? APPLE PACKINGwDEVICE Charles L. Taylor, 'Biglerville, Pa.

Application May 14,

1 Claim.

This; invention relates to an apple packing device.

Ina more specific aspect, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel facing plate or pan and; cooperating form for use in packing" appl'esin crates.

Ithas heretofore been proposed to pack apples in baskets and the like by first preparing a finishedlayer of the fruit that is intended to face In this method a facing plate is employed together witha packing form.

Usually the method embraces, first, preparinga facing layer of apples on a so-calledfacing plate; second, placing a form, on the plate over i the facing layer; third, filling the form in which has been pare-positioned a self-sustaining liner; fourth, removing the form; fifth, placing the basket to be packed over the liner containing an adequate charge of apples; and, sixth, inverting the basket containing the fruit together with the facing plate, removing the latter, and exposing the finished layer of fruit at the top of the basket.

Various complicated tables and expedients have been developed for use in this method of packing which render the same cumbersome and expensive.

It is the specific purpose of the present invention to provide a novel device of great simplicity especially designed for packing rectangular crates of a character invented by me and disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 21,457, filed concurrently herewith.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a light-weight, sheet metal, cooperative packing form and base or facing plate that can be produced at a minimum cost and that will be eflicient in use. It is more particularly an object of the invention to provide such a form of light weight and yet so construct and reinforce it that it will withstand the strains to which it is subjected in use.

Further and more detailed advantages of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a plan view showing the charge retaining form in position on the facing plate or pan;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the base or facing plate without the retaining form.

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1935, Serial No. 21,456 (01; 226-17) I indicates generally the facing plate or pan, and reference character 2 indicates generally the charge retaining form. The facing plate or. pan I embraces 'a substantially rectangular sheet metal plate 3 of sufficient area to provide anadequate flange 4, extending outwardly, completely around the base 5 of the sustaining form' 2 when the latter is in position on the facing plate I.

To give rigidity and strength to the plate 3 and to further function in the manner'to be described hereinafter, there are provided substantially rectangular walls 6 and I affixed to the sheet metal plate 3 of the facing plate or pan 1. The wall 6 projects below the plate 3 and constitutes a support for the pan I. Wall 6 is provided'with a flange Bby which it is secured to the plate 3. The wall 6 further extendsfrom the plate 3 a distance adequate to. permit, when the facing plate or pan I is resting on a support, the free passage of the fingers of an operator beneath the flange 4 to permit lifting of the plate I together with the sustaining form 2. It will be additionally observed that the wall 6 is positioned interiorly of the wall 1. This is done to bring the sustaining wall into a more central position with respect to the sheet metal plate 3 upon which the charge of fruit is supported.

The vertical wall I extends upwardly from the plate 3 a distance substantially equal to that of the thickness of a layer of apples. The function of the wall I isat least three-fold. First, it acts to define the area on the facing plate I that is to be covered by the facing layer. Second, it telescopically holds the sustaining form 2 in a secure position upon the facing place I during the time that the charge of apples is being poured or placed into the sustaining form. Third, it adds rigidity and reinforcement to the sheet metal plate 3 of the facing plate I. Additionally, because of the position of the vertical wall 1 intermediate the circumferential edge of the facing plate I and the lower wall 6, the flange 4 is strengthened so that it will not buckle in lifting the facing plate together with the charge. It will also be observed that this rigidity prevails throughout the circumference of the facing plate. Furthermore, the wall I terminates at its base in an outwardly extending flange 9 that projects to the edge of the facing plate I, the plate 3 of which is rolled over the extremity of the flange 9 as indicated at I0. This further adds rigidity and strength to the The I facing plate and gives the same a neat peripheral finish.

Coming next to a detailed description of the sustaining form 2, it will be observed that the larger end of this form, indicated at 5, just freely telescopes over the upwardly extending wall 1 of the facing plate I. The sustaining form 2 is greatly strengthened by virtue of the particular configuration of the corner structure which is indicated at II. It will be observed that this corner structure acts to brace the side walls l2 and the end walls I3 of the sustaining form 2. Additionally, it will be observed that, in order to further reinforce the longer side walls l2, the metal is joined along vertical lines substantially centrally of the ends of these walls as shown at I 4. The Walls l2, being of the greatest extent, are more likely to buckle when a charge is suddeny poured into the sustaining form 2. It is for this reason that the side walls l2 are thus reinforced by the double-thickness metal joint shown at 14. To provide smooth peripheral edges on the sustaining form 2, the marginal edges thereof are rolled, as indicated at l5 and I6, and to further strengthen the sustaining form, there is positioned in the rolls [5 and 16 a reinforcing wire H.

In the use of the improved packing device, the facing plate or pan l is positioned on a table and has the appearance shown in Figure 3. The operator then prepares a facing layer of apples in this plate; the sustaining form 2 is next telescoped down over the wall 7 in the, manner shown in Figure 2; a self-sustaining paper liner (not shown) is inserted in the sustaining form 2; and the charge of apples is next poured into the sustaining form. The form 2 is then removed, and a crate having a configuration substantially conforming to that of the form 2 is passed down over the self-sustaining liner containing the preformed charge of apples, whereupon the operator grasps the plate I under the flange 4 and turns the container, together with the charge of fruit and the facing plate I, over into proper position, after which the facing plate is removed and the finished layer of apples at the top of the container exposed.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel fruit packing device possessing the advantageous characteristics hereinbefore pointed out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In an apparatus for packing fruit, a facing plate comprising a flat sheet metal member, an upstanding octagonal member carried by said flat sheet metal member, said upstanding member having a lower marginal flange projecting therefrom and secured to said flat sheet metal member, the marginal edges of said flat sheet metal member being rolled around the marginal edge of said flange to form a smooth gripping finished bead extending substantially entirely around the marginal edge of said facing plate, a rectangular supporting wall secured to the lower side of said flat sheet metal member through the medium of a second horizontally extending flange, said last-mentioned flange terminating in substantial alinement with the inner surface of said upstanding member whereby the base of said upstanding member is rigidly supported on said flat sheet metal member.

CHARLES L. TAYLOR. 

